Mohammad Pourkazemi, an Iranian national has a BSc in Fisheries and Environment from the University of Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran and a MSc in Aquaculture from the University of Godollo, Hungary. In 1996 he submitted his thesis on “Molecular and Biochemical Genetic Analysis of sturgeon stocks from the south Caspian Sea” for a PhD in the molecular genetics and biochemistry of sturgeons at the University of Wales, UK. Mohammad is a member of various scientific committees in the Iranian Fisheries Organization including Aquatic Genetics Research and Race Improvement, Rehabilitation and Aquatic Biotechnology. He has participated in various national and international conferences and symposia.

Since 1997 Mohammad has been the CITES Scientific Authority for sturgeons in Iran and since 2001 the Representative of Asia on the CITES Animals Committee. He was appointed Chair of the IUCN Sturgeon Specialist Group (SSG) in 1999.

The SSG now has more than 50 members from 14 countries, particularly sturgeon range states. Its aim is to promote restoration of sturgeon species in the wild and in their natural habitats through development and implementation of appropriate conservation action (including sustainable use). Priorities for sturgeon conservation include combating illegal harvest and illegal trade, enhancing natural reproduction, stock assessment, improving restocking and aquaculture, and improving international co-operation, agreement and management.

The SSG works closely with international organizations particularly CITES on management issues and trade of surgeon stocks and to develop genetic markers for sturgeon species identification. It has also collaborated on the Significant Trade Review of several sturgeon species.

Among the Group’s varied tasks are the assessment of North American sturgeon species for the Red List, completion of the Red List for Eurasian sturgeon species, and commenting on a proposal by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to list beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) under the US Endangered Species Act.

The Group supported WWF in developing an Action Plan for the conservation of sturgeons in the Danube River in 2005 and is working on developing an Action Plan for sturgeons in the Caspian Sea.

“This can be achieved by introducing new methodology on stock assessment and by sharing experiences related to the conservation and sustainable use of shared stocks, as well as by encouraging public involvement in the management and conservation of sturgeon stocks,” says Mohammad.